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Long And Active Flood Season In Store For Montana

Warm temperatures will bring increased snowmelt through the weekend. This, coupled with the widespread rainfall forecast across the Northern Rockies late Saturday through Monday, will bring rapid rises in water levels into early next week.
National Weather Service Missoula
Warm temperatures will bring increased snowmelt through the weekend. This, coupled with the widespread rainfall forecast across the Northern Rockies late Saturday through Monday, will bring rapid rises in water levels into early next week.

The National Weather Service predicts western Montana is going to have a long and active flood season this year, and flood season could soon get off to a not-so-slow build.

National Weather Service Hydrologist Ray Nickless says Friday is expected to bring some of the warmest temperatures of the year to western Montana, with highs pushing 80 degrees.

“That’ll get the lower and mid-elevation snow melting off at a slow rate, but we’ll see the rivers and streams keep on rising as we go into the weekend,” he says.

That’s not such a big deal.

Meteorologists are paying closer attention to the widespread precipitation expected to arrive late Saturday.

“It’s tricky where this moisture is wrapping around and setting up right now. It looks like the heavier stuff might be up in the northwest part of western Montana,” Nickless says.

Rainfall amounts could range from a quarter inch to over an inch, with snow possible in the higher terrain by Sunday night.

“It’s gonna add to the streams. Now we’re just going to see the start of it; the start of flood season. We’re not expecting any major flooding this weekend, but it will get the rivers primed up and they’ll just keep on coming up,” Nickless says.

Nickless says the fresh rain and snow will be adding to Montana’s already above-normal high elevation snowpack.

“It’s gonna be a long flood season. We could have some areas get some pretty intense flooding, especially along the Clark Fork River here in Missoula. The Bitterroot River’s going to be up there; the Flathead River. It’s going to be a very high-flow season that could be going through most of May and June,” he says.

Nickless says anyone interested in flood insurance needs to purchase it immediately. That’s because there’s usually a 30-day waiting period before those policies take effect.

Those who live in low-lying areas that traditionally experience spring flooding may also want to stock-up on sandbags.

Nickless says western Montana may see several consecutive weeks with bouts of warm, beautiful weather followed by stretches of cool, wet conditions.

In central and eastern, Montana flooding has already become an issue. Governor Steve Bullock declared a flooding state of emergency on April 18, due to flooding in seven counties and on the Fort Belknap Indian reservation.

Edward O’Brien first landed at Montana Public Radio three decades ago as a news intern while attending the UM School of Journalism. He covers a wide range of stories from around the state.
edward.obrien@umt.edu.  
(406) 243-4065
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